Buying used? Check for a lemon buyback
Cars bought back under lemon laws are often resold with a “Lemon” or “Manufacturer Buyback” title brand. A VIN history check shows title brands, repeat repairs and odometer problems before you sign.
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Lemon Laws by State
Every state’s lemon law in one place. Pick your state on the map, check if your car qualifies, and see what to do next.
Quick answer
In most U.S. states, a new vehicle is presumed a lemon after 3–4 failed repair attempts for the same defect, or 30 days out of service, within the first 12–24 months. Safety defects often qualify after just 1–2 attempts. Only a handful of states protect used-car buyers.
Choose your state
Is my car a lemon?
A 30-second check against your state’s rules.
Bought
You may have a claim
You are close to the threshold, or protection depends on your warranty. Keep records and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Read the full California lemon law guide →
General guidance, not legal advice.
Lemon laws compared: all 50 states + DC
| State | Coverage period | Repair attempts | Days out of service | Used cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 3 | 30 days | No |
| Alaska | 1 year or the warranty period | 3 | 30 days | No |
| Arizona | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 4 | 30 days | Limited |
| Arkansas | 24 months or 24,000 miles | 3 (1 safety) | 30 days | No |
| California | 18 months or 18,000 miles | 4 (2 safety) | 30 days | Yes |
| Colorado | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Connecticut | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 4 (2 safety) | 30 days | No |
| Delaware | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| District of Columbia | 2 years or 18,000 miles | 4 (1 safety) | 30 days | No |
| Florida | 24 months from delivery | 3 | 30 cumulative days (written notice required after 15 days) | No |
| Georgia | 24 months or 24,000 miles | 3 (1 safety) | 30 days | No |
| Hawaii | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 3 (1 safety) | 30 days | Limited |
| Idaho | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Illinois | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Indiana | 18 months or 18,000 miles | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Iowa | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 3 (1 safety) | 30 days | No |
| Kansas | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Kentucky | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Louisiana | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Maine | 3 years or 18,000 miles | 3 | 15 business days | Yes |
| Maryland | 15 months or 15,000 miles | 4 (1 safety) | 30 days | No |
| Massachusetts | 1 year or 15,000 miles | 3 | 15 business days | Yes |
| Michigan | 2 years or the warranty period | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Minnesota | 2 years or the warranty period | 4 (1 safety) | 30 days | Limited |
| Mississippi | 1 year | 3 | 15 working days | No |
| Missouri | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Montana | 2 years or 18,000 miles | 4 | 30 business days | No |
| Nebraska | 1 year | 4 | 40 days | No |
| Nevada | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| New Hampshire | The manufacturer’s warranty period | 3 | 30 business days | No |
| New Jersey | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 3 (1 safety) | 20 calendar days | Yes |
| New Mexico | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | Limited |
| New York | 2 years or 18,000 miles | 4 | 30 days | Yes |
| North Carolina | 24 months or 24,000 miles | 4 | 20 business days in any 12-month period | No |
| North Dakota | 1 year | 3 | 30 business days | No |
| Ohio | 1 year or 18,000 miles | 3 (1 safety) | 30 days | No |
| Oklahoma | 1 year | 4 | 45 days | No |
| Oregon | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 4 | 30 business days | No |
| Pennsylvania | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 3 | 30 days | No |
| Rhode Island | 1 year or 15,000 miles | 4 | 30 days | Yes |
| South Carolina | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 3 | 30 days | No |
| South Dakota | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 4 | No days-out-of-service presumption | No |
| Tennessee | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Texas | 24 months or 24,000 miles | 4 (2 safety) | 30 days in the first 24 months / 24,000 miles | No |
| Utah | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Vermont | The manufacturer’s warranty period | 3 | 30 days | No |
| Virginia | 18 months | 3 (1 safety) | 30 days | No |
| Washington | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 4 (2 safety) | 30 days | No |
| West Virginia | 1 year | 3 | 30 days | No |
| Wisconsin | 1 year | 4 | 30 days | No |
| Wyoming | 1 year | 3 | 30 business days | No |
Summaries of each state’s new-vehicle presumption. Laws change — confirm details with your state attorney general before acting. Not legal advice.
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Lemon law FAQ
What is a lemon law?
A lemon law is a state law that requires a manufacturer to replace or buy back a new vehicle that has a serious defect it cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts or days in the shop.
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon?
Most states presume a car is a lemon after 3 or 4 unsuccessful repair attempts for the same defect, or 30 days out of service. Many states need only 1 or 2 attempts for a defect that could cause death or serious injury.
Do lemon laws cover used cars?
Usually not. Most state lemon laws cover new vehicles only. A few states — including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine — have used-car protection, and California covers used cars still under a manufacturer warranty.
What do I get if my car is a lemon?
Typically a replacement vehicle or a refund of the purchase price, minus a reasonable allowance for the miles you drove before the first repair. Many states also make the manufacturer pay your attorney fees.
Do I need a lawyer for a lemon law claim?
Not always, but it often helps. Many lemon law attorneys work at no upfront cost because state law makes the manufacturer pay legal fees when you win.